This amazing mushroom heard many.We know that this fungus grows somewhere under the ground without the help of four-legged assistants (pigs or dogs) it is almost impossible to find.Perhaps this our knowledge ends.And yet what is the truffle?What is a species?What is he so good?
little information about truffles
Truffles are fungi of the genus marsupial with tuberous underground fruiting bodies.The closest relatives of truffles are morels.
Truffles usually found in deciduous forests.Truffle mycelium (mycelium) forms the roots of the plants under which it grows strong and mutually beneficial association, called mycorrhiza.In total there are nine types of truffles that grow in various parts of the world, each species prefers a wood.Sometimes called the truffle mushrooms have similar fruiting bodies, which can also be eaten, but they are valued much lower than the real thing.There are also inedible for humans view truffles - deer that eat deer and some rodents.
way, people are not able to find a spot where the truffle.Mushroom (which increases the forest delicacy, can be determined only animals) has a peculiar odor.Usually, for this purpose involve specially trained dogs and pigs.
On that taste like truffles?How is it different from the usual mushroom?This truffle has its own unique flavor and taste.It reminds both well roasted seeds and nuts, berries, moss, fallen leaves - that's what the truffle.Water, which must be placed at some time truffle, becomes similar to soy sauce.
As historians believe, that a truffle, his produce and eat, it was known to the ancient Sumerians.In ancient Greece and ancient Rome, this fungus attributed medicinal properties, and medieval alchemists and magicians, it was used in witchcraft purposes.But they got the greatest popularity during the reign of Louis XIV.We were also in Russia truffles came after the War of 1812
Types of truffles growing in Europe
In Europe, there are the following types of truffles:
- Summer (also known as the Russian Black) truffle.It has tuberous or rounded fruit body brown-black or blue-black.It grows usually under the roots of birch, oak, hornbeam, beech.Distributed almost throughout Europe up to Scandinavia (including in Russia).Not as valuable as other kinds of truffles, but also considered a delicacy.
- Winter Truffle.Its shell (peridium) covered with polygonal or thyroid formations.The fungus has a reddish-purple or black.It occurs mainly in Italy, France and Switzerland.By smell like musk.
- Italian truffle.Despite its name, it is also found in France and other European countries.The fruits are painted in light ocher or brownish color.It has a pleasant spicy smell, and taste like garlic cheese.It is used usually in raw form.
- Black (also called the Perigord region of the historic French) truffle.Mushroom, the price of which is up to 1,000 € per kg, has a color from reddish-brown to black and purple.Usable as cooked and uncooked as a seasoning.
way, truffles can grow, though not as, for example, mushrooms.Even in the XIX century it was noticed that if the ground to plant acorns with oak under which truffles grow, under the roots of the new tree will grow as the mushroom delicacies.In France, where is well known that such a truffle, once these trees were planted 750 km2, with which it was possible to harvest 1,000 tons of these delicacies.Unfortunately, this process is very long.For a full crop requires about 30 years, and the amount collected truffles falls sharply.
